I know that it has been a while since I have really sat down to write on this blog. Life has been crazy and demanding, and I haven't really taken a lot of time for myself lately. At least, not time to do anything productive. However, there has been something on my mind lately. Something that needs to be addressed and something I wish I had a few days to take and just write the perfect blog about. However, since I don't have that kind of time right now, I'm going to try to make do with an hour and a half. Thanks for hanging in there with me, sorry if my thoughts are jumbled and unorganized!
Many people say that there is no such thing as a perfect person, and depending on their definition of perfect, they are probably right. To most people, the word perfect simply means “to be free of any flaw or defect in condition or quality; faultless.” As humans, I believe that being flawed is in our nature, or at least it became part of our nature after Adam and Eve changed our lives forever. We are not, according to the afore mentioned definition, perfect. We make mistakes, we mess up over and over and over, and then we learn from it and try not to make the same mistake again. In that sense, we aren’t perfect. However, I would like to propose a new idea. That perhaps we can be perfect. I’ve been observing one specific person for over 18 years, and I have come to a conclusion that, from my studies, I have found a perfect person. Who is this perfect person? Well, let me tell you a little about my Test Subject #1.
From day one of my studies, Test Subject #1 (TS1) has shown absolute selflessness. Through interactions between TS1 and myself, I found that if there was something that I needed, it would come before something that TS1 wanted or needed. That included sleep. I would keep TS1 up for hours at night, depriving this person of an essential aspect to functionality. But TS1 wouldn’t complain, wouldn’t ignore me and my helpless cries. Nope, TS1 was there to hold me close and calm me down, and then do for me everything that I couldn’t do for myself. As the years went by, some things changed, but many things stayed the same. I observed more characteristics in TS1 that made “perfect” a very fitting title. The selflessness grew above and beyond what any could comprehend, and sacrifice made it possible. TS1 began to grow into a lover, a nurturer, and a friend.
If you haven’t figured out who TS1 is by now, you are silly, because it is obvious. Test Subject #1 on my studies of perfection is none other than my Mother.
Now, my Mom has been there for me through thick and thin. She has seen me at my absolute worst, and she has seen my shine my brightest. And she has loved me through it all.
My Mommy has been there to tuck me in at night. Now that I have moved out and am living on my own, I miss it more than I could possibly say. For 17 years there were very few nights that she wouldn’t make the journey to my room to tuck me in. The times when she couldn’t tuck me in, while I was still living at home, I never slept as well as the nights when she would. After I moved out, I couldn’t sleep because it just felt like something was missing. And something was.
My Mom has been my security blanket. While she has never babied me or hindered my growth, she has protected me and comforted me and I couldn’t imagine my life without her. God blessed me beyond belief with a woman to raise me who was so much like Himself.
Through all of my struggles, I have been able to lean on her. She was there for me when I was little and I would get strep throat at least once a month. She was there for me when I started playing soccer, and was the littlest (and youngest) playing on the team. No matter how many cuts and bruises I had, she would take special care of each and every one. When I was nine and had to have my tonsils removed, she was the worlds greatest nurse. She had books and movies and stocked up on the few food items that I could actually consume. (ice cream, jello, pudding, icees, and other things of that sort) She read Spirit with me, and then we planned my birthday party with that theme. As I grew older and my struggles grew with me, she was always there for me. No matter if it was physical, emotional, or spiritual (or even mental) she would be the one to help me work things out. When I got into my middle-ish teen years, I started to realize just how wonderful of a woman she truly is. Then, I started to not want to share my failures with her, simply because I didn’t want to disappoint her. I turned to my friends for advice, and sometimes it worked out, but usually it only worsened. What make my Mom perfect when it comes the things that I struggle with, my failures, and my trials is that she never condescends me for them. She is the kind of woman who can take something that the world sees as ugly and worthless and make it shine like a beautiful diamond. My Mother lets God work through her, and accomplish SO much. She is perfect to Him. So when things would get really bad, and I would be lost and broken, and I would finally talk to her about what I was struggling with or what I had messed up with lately, she would hold me tight and let me know it was going to be okay. Sure, the consequences to my actions were still there, but she helped me to make my wrongs right, and turn my life back around on track. God truly blessed me.
My childhood was so spectacular, that I miss it everyday. Why? Not because I didn’t have the responsibilities that I have today, not because life was simpler, not because I could play all day long (well... those might have something to do with it.) My childhood was spectacular because I got to spend all day long, everyday, with my Mom. In the morning, she was my alarm clock. When my blinds would open, my light would turn on, and I would hear “This is the day, this is the day, that the Lord has made, that the Lord has made...” I knew it was time to get up and start a brand new day. After a quick shower, or sometimes just throwing on some sweats (because it is ALWAYS cold at my parents house - courtesy of my Dad :P), I would go to the kitchen for some eggs, or waffles, and chocolate milk. I would down my 10/15 vitamins and consume my delicious food. Then it was time for bible studies with my Mom. After that? Perhaps a math, english, science, or literature lesson. By lunch our main lessons were usually done, and all that was left was homework. After an hour break of playing outside with Drake, or watching Danny Phantom (also with Drake), and eating some bagel or tortilla shell pizzas, or dino nuggets, or a sandwich, or soup... etc. I would do my homework and be free for the afternoon. Sure there were chores, but a lot of time I could do them with her. Cleaning the bathrooms, sweeping and vacuuming, dusting, poop scooping the yard, etc. Then we could do fun things together. We could go to the park, or we could go play in our yard. We could take pictures. We could read together in the sunshine, we could chew our ice :) We could create masterpieces out of simple projects. We could make cookies for our Daddy love, and we could play cards. There were so many different ways that we could spend our time together... and looking back I miss it.
My Mom, she gave me a perfect childhood. (My Dad played a HUGE part in that, as did God, but I’m focusing on her right now because she deserves to know how wonderful she is.)
I recently got into a debate with an acquaintance/friend (depending on the day) about whether or not women can multi-task. HA. Duh. If he had ever observed my Mother, he would have put his foot in his mouth and admitted I was right ;) Who knew that there was a perfect multi-tasker out there? Me. I’ve been watching her do it for 18 years. She can juggle four kids, or five kids and a grandchild too, all their activities, and their needs. She loves each and every one of them CONSTANTLY and perfectly. She can cook dinner, help with homework, set up appointments, manage schedules, reprimand the tracking of mud through the house, encourage the practice of the piano in the background, and set the table all at the same time.
Clearly, I could go on for HOURS about the perfect qualities of my Mother, but no one wants to read a novel on this blog.
I just want her to know that she is perfect, she is beautiful, she is LOVELY, she is clever, she is intelligent, she is caring, she is kind, she is a prioritizer, she knows how to make life fun for everyone, she is a multi-tasker, she is the worlds greatest teacher, she is SO forgiving, she has an incredible-light-up-your-life smile, she is handy, she is outgoing, she is a chihuahua (inside joke), she is creative, she is funny, she makes life interesting - especially travel - she is generous, she is captivating, she is inspiring, and that SO MANY people love her, and treasure her, and would be lost without her.
Mommy you have had a lasting impact on so many precious lives, and you have influenced them for the better. The way God works through you is magnificent, thank you for showing me daily what living for Him, through Him, and about Him looks like. I love you more than words could say, more than 1,630 words could say. You inspire me daily. I’m sorry for the times that I fail, and I thank you for the perfect example you are to me. Thank you for your perfect love. Thank you for being my Perfect Person.
Kortney Alacyn
